Senju Toka watched the two children clear away the mess and return to the table.
She set down the cup of weak tea she had been drinking to cut through the grease.
Smiling, she said gently, "Chiharu, come with me tomorrow!"
"There are plenty of odd jobs in the clan you can help with, and you can learn while you're at it."
"Yes, my lady," Chiharu replied obediently, the same gentle smile on her face.
Besides being her apprentice, she was also Senju Toka's bodyguard.
But Uka had suddenly awakened Wood Release yesterday, and her lady had been concerned for his safety.
That was the only reason she had asked Chiharu to stay with Uka.
But since her lady had made these arrangements, someone else would presumably be taking over Uka's protection.
After all, this was Wood Release. Even within the Senju Clan, a personal bodyguard was indispensable.
Hearing his aunt's arrangements, Uka Senju frowned to himself.
He had been planning to have Chiharu take him to the forest behind the house to test the energy values of other species.
Now his original plan had been completely derailed.
Noticing that something was off with her nephew, Senju Toka asked in puzzlement, "Do you... have a problem with that?"
Seeing the look in his aunt's eyes, three parts curiosity and six parts nosiness,
Uka Senju scratched his head and rolled his eyes inwardly, at a loss for words, before explaining, "I was hoping Chiharu could take me to the forest behind the house for some actual combat!"
"Ohhh~" Not hearing the answer she wanted, Senju Toka drew out the word and said with a smile, "Senju Tsukika will be responsible for your safety for the time being."
"Your Aunt Tsukika is very strong. She can take you to the forest too."